Ann Leyborne Leyborne

Ann Popham became the wife of William Leyborne Leyborne in 1763 and their portraits were probably painted to celebrate the marriage. Both paintings were incorrectly inscribed during the nineteenth century when descendants had assumed the surname of Leyborne-Popham. In this portrait she wears a very unusual adornment made of strands of braided or twisted silk. Costume historians consider this the only known portrait showing such an item, which has no name.She lifts strands of the silk towards her posy of flowers, kept fresh in a bosom bottle (a small vessel containing water).